The Young Dubliners warm up a chilly night with some Irish rock at the City Winery

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The Young Dubliners may not be quite so young anymore, but they certainly know how to bring an audience to their feet. On Wednesday, January 8th they took the stage at the City Winery, opening with a bass solo and an instrumental tune to warm up the crowd. Then lead singer Keith Roberts took over with his deep raspy vocals and Irish brogue, ramping up the energy and setting the tone for the night.

After a few fan favorite songs, the band transitioned into a few new songs, teasing the upcoming release of a new album. They then seamlessly picked up the pace with some traditional Irish songs, including “I’ll Tell Me Ma” and “Foggy Dew,” prompting singalongs from the crowd. Fans would definitely have been dancing had there been enough room! But the seating didn’t stop any of the fun as the band moved through more original songs, taking time to highlight the talents of each band member with solos for the fiddle, lead guitar, drums, and bass. 

The band slowed the evening down with “Pair of Brown Eyes” before leaving the stage with only violinist Chas Waltz to carry the music. He spent the next 10 minutes winding his fiddle through an epic story composed of traditional jigs and reels interspersed with slower, moody pieces full of emotion. The show may have been at a winery, but for a few minutes the crowd was transported to an Irish pub.

The Young Dubliners returned to the stage, picking up the action again with two more original tunes before bidding the crowd good night. But the crowd wasn’t satisfied. It only took a few moments of chants of “one more song!” to bring the band back for not just one, but three more songs. A  few intrepid fans even found some space to get up and dance, encouraging more people to join in. The night ended as any good Irish show should: with dances, cheers, and toasts.

​Review/Photo By: Aarika MacIntyre